Daniel 6:15 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Daniel 6:15 kjv
Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Daniel 6:15 nkjv
Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed."
Daniel 6:15 niv
Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, "Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."
Daniel 6:15 esv
Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed."
Daniel 6:15 nlt
In the evening the men went together to the king and said, "Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed."
Daniel 6 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 6:8 | "Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document... | Initial signing of irreversible law. |
| Dan 6:12 | "...then they approached the king and reminded him... | Officials remind the king again. |
| Est 1:19 | "If it please the king, let a royal order be issued... that it be recorded according to the law of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be revoked." | Unchangeability of Persian/Median law. |
| Est 8:8 | "...a decree written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring cannot be revoked." | No decree is revocable. |
| Prov 19:12 | "The king's wrath is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass." | King's power and sudden shift in favor. |
| Isa 40:8 | "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." | Contrast human vs. God's unchangeable word. |
| Psa 119:89 | "Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens." | God's word is eternal and immutable. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind." | God's unchangeable character and word. |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." | God's steadfastness. |
| Jas 1:17 | "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." | God's unchangeability in His nature. |
| Heb 13:8 | "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." | Christ's eternal immutability. |
| Acts 4:19 | "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge..." | Conflict: man's law vs. God's law. |
| Acts 5:29 | "We must obey God rather than men." | God's command supersedes human law. |
| Exo 1:17 | "But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live." | Fearing God more than human rulers. |
| Dan 3:17-18 | "...our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image..." | God's deliverance despite decrees, even if it leads to death. |
| Matt 10:28 | "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." | Fear of God greater than fear of man. |
| Psa 35:7 | "For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my soul." | Conspirators setting a trap. |
| Psa 57:6 | "They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit before me; into it they themselves have fallen." | The plotter caught in his own trap. |
| Prov 26:27 | "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling." | Principle of poetic justice/reversal. |
| Ecc 8:4 | "For the word of a king is supreme, and who may say to him, ‘What are you doing?’" | The king's authority (human perspective). |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | "Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him..." | Christian submission to human authority (with limits). |
Daniel 6 verses
Daniel 6 15 meaning
This verse details the swift and determined actions of the officials who had plotted against Daniel. Having caught Daniel in what they perceived as an act of rebellion against the king's decree, they immediately approached King Darius. They presented their case by invoking the fundamental and irreversible nature of Medo-Persian law, reminding the king that once a decree or statute was established by the monarch, it could not be altered or rescinded, even by the king himself. Their intention was to bind the king to his own law, ensuring Daniel's certain punishment according to the previously enacted decree.
Daniel 6 15 Context
Daniel 6:15 is situated after Daniel's elevation to a high position by King Darius, which provoked intense jealousy among other high-ranking officials. These officials, unable to find fault with Daniel's conduct, conspired to ensnare him through his unwavering devotion to God. They devised a law prohibiting prayer to any god or man other than the king for thirty days, knowing Daniel would not compromise his faith. King Darius, flattered or misguided, signed this decree, which, once signed under Medo-Persian law, was immutable. Daniel, fully aware of the law, continued his practice of daily prayer, three times a day, towards Jerusalem. The preceding verses (6:10-14) describe Daniel's obedience to God and the officials reporting him to the king. Verse 15 marks the critical point where the conspirators present their findings to the king, forcing his hand and leaving him with no legal recourse to save Daniel, despite his personal desire to do so. This immediate enforcement highlights the officials' malicious intent and the rigid nature of the empire's legal system, setting the stage for Daniel's confrontation with the lions' den.
Daniel 6 15 Word analysis
- Then: 'Ĕḏayīn (אֱדַיִן, Aramaic). Indicates a sequence of events, an immediate follow-up to the officials finding Daniel praying. This points to their quick, almost eager, report.
- these men: gillū'a 'innûn gibrayya' (אִנּוּן גֻּבְרַיָּא, Aramaic).
Gibrayyaoften translated as "men" but can imply "strong men," "mighty men," or "chief officials," highlighting their authority and influence in challenging the king. Their collective action against Daniel reinforces their conspiratorial unity. - came to the king: qeḏam-malkā' (קֳדָם מַלְכָּא, Aramaic). Signifies their direct, formal approach, presenting a seemingly legal complaint against Daniel.
- and said to him: wĕ’āmərîn lĕh (וַאֲמַרִין לֵהּ, Aramaic). They articulate their demand clearly and publicly, leaving no room for the king's evasion.
- Know, O king: Yindac malkā' (יִנְדַּע מַלְכָּא, Aramaic). A declarative, authoritative statement, subtly putting the king on the defensive. It serves as a reminder, not a question, that they fully expect the law to be enforced.
- that by the law of the Medes and Persians: dî-ḏātā' dî-Mādạy wĕpārās (דִּי דָתָא דִֽי־מָדַי וּפָרַס, Aramaic).
Dātā'refers to a decree, law, or edict. The Medo-Persian legal system was renowned for its strictness and the irrevocability of its decrees. This phrase establishes the absolute legal framework they are invoking. - no decree or statute: Kol-'esar wĕlā' shūḡlān (כָּל־אֱסָר וְלָא שׁוּגְלָן, Aramaic).
'Esar(bond, prohibition, decree) andshūḡlān(statute, interdiction) emphasize the comprehensive nature of the enacted law. The double negation reinforces that nothing signed could be altered. - that the king establishes may be changed: dî tĕqîm malkā' lā' tihî' lahĕshûna (דִּי תְקִים מַלְכָּא לָא תִהֱוֵה לְהַשְׁנוּי, Aramaic).
Tĕqîm(establishes, confirms) andlahĕshûna(to change, alter) highlights that once a royal pronouncement received the king's seal, even he could not undo it. The law, ironically, binds the lawmaker.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Then these men came to the king and said to him, 'Know, O king'": This phrase underscores the swift, calculated, and accusatory nature of the officials' approach. They were not seeking advice or discussion but enforcing a verdict, leveraging the legal structure against Daniel, and in essence, against the king's later will.
- "that by the law of the Medes and Persians, no decree or statute that the king establishes may be changed": This crucial declaration forms the legal trap. It outlines the binding and unalterable nature of royal edicts in the Medo-Persian empire. It's an affirmation of the king's past action, reminding him of his absolute commitment, and legally cornering him into carrying out the penalty against Daniel. It is this fundamental principle that stripped Darius of any legal means to save Daniel, making the situation seem inescapable by human means. This law contrasts sharply with God's perfect justice and divine flexibility for mercy when repentance occurs.
Daniel 6 15 Bonus section
The "law of the Medes and Persians" represents the ultimate human authority and inflexibility. While designed for stability and to prevent arbitrary changes by subsequent rulers, in this context, it became an instrument of injustice and a test of faith. This strict legalism contrasts with God's law, which, though absolute in its moral commands, allows for grace, repentance, and divine intervention. The narrative serves as a powerful reminder that while earthly laws hold sway, there is a higher, unyielding, yet merciful divine law that ultimately prevails, demonstrating God's sovereignty over all human systems and rulers. The situation presented to Darius is a moment of divine irony where the king's own authority has become his burden, necessitating a miracle to resolve the conflict.
Daniel 6 15 Commentary
Daniel 6:15 exposes the ruthless efficacy of human legal systems, particularly when twisted by malicious intent. The officials, by immediately invoking the "law of the Medes and Persians," forced Darius into an inescapable predicament. This law, once enacted and sealed by the king, became irrevocable even by the king himself, presenting an absolute, inflexible legal principle. The irony is stark: a law intended by the conspirators to ensnare Daniel instead bound the king, rendering him powerless to act according to his desire for Daniel's rescue (Daniel 6:14). The verse vividly illustrates the tension between rigid human law and the divine call for justice and mercy. It also foreshadows God's ultimate intervention, showing that even the most unchangeable human decrees are subject to His supreme authority.